THE Don College will not close or shrink despite the extension of years 11 and 12 into most of its feeder schools, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has predicted. The government on Friday announced that years 11 and 12 would be extended into both Devonport state high schools - Devonport High and Reece High - as well as Latrobe High, Ulverstone High and the Sheffield School, plus Burnie High and Yolla District High from 2017. Announcing 18 schools around the state to start the rollout from 2017, Mr Rockliff said he did not believe Don or Hellyer College, in Burnie, would lose student numbers. Rather, he argued, the roll-out was about "growing the pie" and getting students to continue beyond year 10 who would not have otherwise done so. Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the government needed to explain how it could maintain the colleges and the extended high schools. "It just doesn't make sense," Mr Green said. "I'm very concerned that students will be let down ... by eroding the college system in this state." Mr Rockliff said the program was aimed at lifting Tasmania's low rates of retention (students going on to year 11) and completion (finishing year 12). Asked if Don would have a future when the program was complete, Mr Rockliff said: "Absolutely - every one of our eight colleges has a very strong future." The exact nature of the offerings in the high schools is yet to be determined. "Over coming months, the Department of Education will work with school communities to design delivery models that best suit the individual needs of their school and students," Mr Rockliff said. He said high schools would work in partnership with the colleges. Burnie High principal Judy Fahey said employers had no choice in today's world but to look for a more skilled workforce. She said students who did not finish year 12 were more likely to be unemployed, and unemployed for longer periods, and face other problems. She was not expecting the changes at Burnie High to damage other institutions, and expected the school would work with Hellyer and other partners. Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations and Burnie High School Association president Ant Dry said the "whole idea is to keep kids in education as long as possible". He said TASSO was happy to encourage the extensions as long as the colleges were not damaged.

THE Don College will not close or shrink despite the extension of years 11 and 12 into most of its feeder schools, Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff has predicted.

The government on Friday announced that years 11 and 12 would be extended into both Devonport state high schools - Devonport High and Reece High - as well as Latrobe High, Ulverstone High and the Sheffield School, plus Burnie High and Yolla District High from 2017.

Announcing 18 schools around the state to start the rollout from 2017, Mr Rockliff said he did not believe Don or Hellyer College, in Burnie, would lose student numbers.

Rather, he argued, the roll-out was about "growing the pie" and getting students to continue beyond year 10 who would not have otherwise done so.

Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the government needed to explain how it could maintain the colleges and the extended high schools.

"It just doesn't make sense," Mr Green said.

"I'm very concerned that students will be let down ... by eroding the college system in this state."

Mr Rockliff said the program was aimed at lifting Tasmania's low rates of retention (students going on to year 11) and completion (finishing year 12).

Asked if Don would have a future when the program was complete, Mr Rockliff said: "Absolutely - every one of our eight colleges has a very strong future."

The exact nature of the offerings in the high schools is yet to be determined.

"Over coming months, the Department of Education will work with school communities to design delivery models that best suit the individual needs of their school and students," Mr Rockliff said.

He said high schools would work in partnership with the colleges.

Burnie High principal Judy Fahey said employers had no choice in today's world but to look for a more skilled workforce.

She said students who did not finish year 12 were more likely to be unemployed, and unemployed for longer periods, and face other problems.

She was not expecting the changes at Burnie High to damage other institutions, and expected the school would work with Hellyer and other partners.

Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations and Burnie High School Association president Ant Dry said the "whole idea is to keep kids in education as long as possible".

He said TASSO was happy to encourage the extensions as long as the colleges were not damaged.